Telehealth: Is it the Future of Better Healthcare?

Now that life has returned somewhat back to normal, the use of telemedicine has certainly declined. However, that decline did not go back to the utilization rates before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but instead remains much higher. In fact, according to recent data, telemedicine service utilization has stabilized at 38 times higher than at any time prior to the pandemic¹. In-person visits with providers will likely remain the preferred, and in many cases necessary, method for patients to receive care for the foreseeable future. However, telemedicine has certainly become more mainstream and accepted. This shift was facilitated by regulatory changes to expand telemedicine during the pandemic, and many of those changes have now been made permanent. This in turn has fueled more investments into virtual care and digital health technology innovation, which will undoubtedly expand telemedicine care to even higher levels.

So, what exactly is telemedicine / telehealth and what are the key components? And what should we expect to see develop further in this sector? We’ll explore these questions and what the future of virtual healthcare may look like.

Image: Parkview Health Rapid Diagnostic Unit

Key Components of Telehealth

The CCHP, in collaboration with the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, has furthered defined telehealth and telehealth policy. The “Telehealth Definition Framework”³ was established to provide clarity on the use of telehealth and the key components. Today, those components include:

• Live Videoconferencing (Synchronous)

This is what we as patients are most familiar with – meeting with a provider in a live two-way session using electronic devices with audio / video and internet connection. This can occur in two ways: virtually from the patient’s home, or in a telemedicine room in a healthcare facility assisted by a patient presenter. It is also the means that providers use for remote consultation with other providers at the patient’s side in an Emergency Department or an Intensive Care Unit along with digital patient monitoring equipment. Health education is also now widely shared virtually providing health professionals the ability to conduct and attend the same continuing education programs in multiple locations. Patients can also receive education on disease management and other important health information.

• Store-and-Forward (Asynchronous)

This component is primarily for healthcare professionals, typically specialists, to assist in diagnosis and consultations when live virtual or in-person contact is not needed. Store-and-Forward provides access to data from sources such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, as well as photographs, patient data and video clips of patient exams. With this type of consultation, the patient, primary care provider, and the specialist do not need to be scheduled at the same time, which improves the efficiency of healthcare services.

• Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

This may sound a little like stalking, but it’s actually for the benefit of the patient! This is the technologies and devices that exist today for a person’s health and medical data (vital signs, weight, blood sugar and oxygen levels, etc.) to be collected electronically and transmitted to a provider who may be in a completely different location. This can occur both for care services while in a medical facility and for support services after a patient is discharged to their home or care facility. The benefits include helping people stay healthier, reduced length-of-stay and re-admissions at hospitals and allowing older and disabled individuals to live in their homes longer.

• Mobile Health (mHealth)

Health information at our fingertips – that’s “mHealth”. While relatively new, it is a rapidly developing and expanding sector of healthcare technology. With the use of cell phones, tablets, and other hand-held devices, health information and education can be shared quickly and broadly through dedicated applications (apps). As with most developing technologies, policies for mHealth are continually being generated and adapted, and both the FDA and FTC have some jurisdiction and oversight.

Image: Rush Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Unit